Hair clip without coil spring

ABSTRACT

A hair clip includes two jaws each having a hand grip extended from one end, and a coupling device having a spring member engaged with the hand grips of the jaws for coupling the jaws and the coupling device together and for allowing the jaws to be forced away from each other and to engage with a hair of a user when the hand grips are forced and depressed toward each other by the user. The spring member is preferably a curved spring member, and the coupling device includes two brackets formed on the ends of the spring member and each having a channel for receiving and engaging with the hand grips. A block is formed in each jaw for reinforcing the jaws and the hand grips.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a hair clip, and more particularly to ahair clip including two spring-biased jaws resiliently coupled togetherwith a resilient coupling device without a torsional spring or a coilspring for preventing the hair of the user from being entangled by thejaws and the torsional spring or the coil spring.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Typical hair clips or hair styling devices comprise a horizontal base orlower member and an upper resilient member or two rings pivotallyconnected together, and a coil spring is required to be provided andengaged between the two rings for biasing the rings toward each otherand for clasping or holding the hair or for styling the hair of theuser.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,601,858 to Ackerman discloses one of thetypical hair tonic and curling fluid dispensing bomb comprising tworings pivotally connected together with a hinge pin, and a coil springengaged between the two rings for biasing the rings toward each otherand for clasping or holding the hair or for styling the hair of theuser.

However, the hair of the user may have a good chance to be entangled byor with the pivotal connection between the two rings and with thetorsional spring or the coil spring.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,988,184 to Shu discloses another typical hair clip orhair styling device comprising two clasp plates hinged together with apivot shaft, and a coil spring is also required to be provided andengaged between the two clasp plates for biasing the clasp plates towardeach other and for clasping or holding the hair or for styling the hairof the user.

However, similarly, it also may have a good chance for the hair of theuser to be entangled by or with the pivot shaft and/or with the pivotalconnection between the two clasp plates and with the torsional spring orthe coil spring.

The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate theafore-described disadvantages of the conventional hair clips or hairstyling devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a hair clipincluding two spring-biased jaws resiliently coupled together with aresilient coupling device without a torsional spring or a coil springfor preventing the hair of the user from being entangled by the jaws andthe torsional spring or the coil spring.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a hairclip comprising two jaws each including a first end and a second end,and a hand grip extended from the second end of each of the jaws, and anadjacent portion formed between the jaw and the hand grip respectively,and a coupling device including a spring member having two ends engagedwith the hand grips of the jaws for coupling the jaws and the couplingdevice together, and for allowing the jaws to be forced away from eachother and to engage with a hair of a user when the hand grips are forcedand depressed toward each other by the user.

The spring member is preferably a curved spring member. The couplingdevice includes two brackets provided on the ends of the spring memberand each bracket having a channel formed therein for receiving andengaging with the hand grips.

The jaws each include a block provided on the second end and theadjacent portion between the jaw and the hand grip for reinforcing thejaws and the hand grips and for engaging with the brackets.

The brackets each include a recess formed therein for engaging with theblock and for anchoring the jaws and the hand grips to the couplingdevice. The jaws each include at least one tooth formed in the first endfor engaging with the hair of the user.

The brackets each include at least one catch extended therefrom forengaging with the block and for anchoring the jaws and the hand grips tothe coupling device.

The spring member includes at least one latch extended therefrom forengaging with the jaws and for anchoring the jaws and the hand grips tothe coupling device.

Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from a careful reading of the detailed description providedhereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a hair clip in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the hair clip;

FIG. 3 is a top plan schematic view of the hair clip;

FIG. 4 is a side plan schematic view of the hair clip;

FIG. 5 is a side plan schematic view similar to FIG. 4, illustrating theoperation of the hair clip.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1-4, a hair clip 1 inaccordance with the present invention comprises two jaws 10, 20resiliently and pivotally connected or coupled together with a resilientcoupling device 30 without a torsional spring or a coil spring forpreventing the hair of the user from being entangled by the jaws 10, 20and the torsional spring or the coil spring. The jaws 10, 20 eachinclude one end portion 11, 21 having a number of teeth 12, 22 formed inthe end portion 11, 21 for engaging with the hair of the user and forstyling the hair of the user, and each include a hand grip 13, 23 formedintegral with the jaws 10, 20 and extended from the other end portion14, 24 of the jaws 10, 20 and inclined relative to jaws 10, 20, bestshown in FIG. 4.

It is preferable that the jaws 10, 20 each include a block 15, 25 formedor provided on the other end portion 14, 24 of the jaws 10, 20 or formedor provided on the adjacent or conjunction portions 16, 26 between thejaws 10, 20 and the hand grips 13, 23 and formed integral with the jaws10, 20 and the hand grips 13, 23 for reinforcing the jaws 10, 20 and thehand grips 13, 23 and for increasing the resilience and/or the bendingstrength of the jaws 10, 20 and the hand grips 13, 23, and each includean opening 17, 27 formed in the hand grip 13, 23 or in the jaw 10, 20,or in the adjacent or conjunction portions 16, 26 between the jaws 10,20 and the hand grips 13, 23.

The resilient coupling device 30 includes a curved and middle orintermediate spring blade or member 31, and two ends or two casings orbrackets 32, 33 formed or provided on the ends of the curved springmember 31 and engaged with the block 15, 25 and each having a channel34, 35 formed in the brackets 32, 33 for receiving or engaging with thehand grips 13, 23 and for coupling the jaws 10, 20 and the couplingdevice 30 together, and includes two or more latches 36 extended fromthe curved spring member 31 for engaging with the jaws 10, 20 and/or thehand grips 13, 23 (FIGS. 2-5) and for latching or anchoring or securingthe jaws 10, 20 and the hand grips 13, 23 to the coupling device 30 andfor resiliently and pivotally coupling the jaws 10, 20 and the couplingdevice 30 together.

The brackets 32, 33 each include a recess 37 formed therein forreceiving or engaging with the block 15, 25 of the jaw 10, 20 (FIGS. 2,4-5) and for further anchoring or securing the jaws 10, 20 and the handgrips 13, 23 to the coupling device 30, and each include one or moreprojections or catches 38 extended from the bracket 32, 33 and/orextended into the recess 37 of the bracket 32, 33 for engaging with theblock 15, 25 of the jaw 10, 20 and for further stably anchoring orsecuring the jaws 10, 20 and the hand grips 13, 23 to the couplingdevice 30 and for preventing the jaws 10, 20 and the hand grips 13, 23from being disengaged from the coupling device 30. The ends of thespring member 31 may be seated or anchored in the opening 17, 27 of thehand grip 13, 23 or of the jaw 10, 20.

In operation, as shown in FIGS. 4-5, the hand grips 13, 23 may be forcedor depressed toward each other by the user to force the end portions 11,21 and the teeth 12, 22 of the jaws 10, 20 away from each other (FIG. 5)and to allow the hair of the user to be easily and quickly engaged withthe jaws 10, 20 and to allow the hair of the user to be solidly andresiliently retained in the jaws 10, 20. It is to be noted that notorsional springs or coil springs are provided and attached or engagedinto the hair clip 1 such that the hair of the user will not beentangled by the torsional springs or the coil springs. The jaws 10, 20and the hand grips 13, 23 and the coupling device 30 may be made ofmetal, plastic, rubber, or other synthetic materials.

Accordingly, the hair clip in accordance with the present inventionincludes two spring-biased jaws resiliently coupled together with aresilient coupling device without a torsional spring or a coil springfor preventing the hair of the user from being entangled by the jaws andthe torsional spring or the coil spring.

Although this invention has been described with a certain degree ofparticularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure hasbeen made by way of example only and that numerous changes in thedetailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts maybe resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as hereinafter claimed.

1. A hair clip comprising: two jaws each including a first end and asecond end, and a hand grip extended from said second end of each ofsaid jaws, and an adjacent portion formed between said jaw and said handgrip respectively, and a coupling device including a spring memberhaving two ends engaged with said hand grips of said jaws for couplingsaid jaws and said coupling device together, and for allowing said jawsto be forced away from each other and to engage with a hair of a userwhen said hand grips are forced and depressed toward each other by theuser.
 2. The hair clip as claimed in claim 1, wherein said spring memberis a curved spring member.
 3. The hair clip as claimed in claim 1,wherein said coupling device includes two brackets provided on said endsof said spring member and each bracket having a channel formed thereinfor receiving and engaging with said hand grips.
 4. The hair clip asclaimed in claim 3, wherein said jaws each include a block provided onsaid second end and said adjacent portion between said jaw and said handgrip for reinforcing said jaws and said hand grips and for engaging withsaid brackets.
 5. The hair clip as claimed in claim 4, wherein saidbrackets each include a recess formed therein for engaging with saidblock and for anchoring said jaws and said hand grips to said couplingdevice.
 6. The hair clip as claimed in claim 4, wherein said bracketseach include at least one catch extended therefrom for engaging withsaid block and for anchoring said jaws and said hand grips to saidcoupling device.
 7. The hair clip as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidspring member includes at least one latch extended therefrom forengaging with said jaws and for anchoring said jaws and said hand gripsto said coupling device.
 8. The hair clip as claimed in claim 2, whereinsaid jaws each include at least one tooth formed in said first end forengaging with the hair of the user.